Image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, an image bearer, at least one density sensor, a cleaning jig, and an insertion port. The image forming device forms a toner image. The image bearer bears the toner image to be transferred on a recording medium. The density sensor has a light-receiving surface to optically read the toner image. The light-receiving surface faces the image bearer constantly. The cleaning jig cleans the density sensor and includes a cleaner to contact the light-receiving surface. The cleaning jig is inserted through the insertion port into the body of the image forming apparatus and reciprocally moved to clean the light-receiving surface and is removed from the body of the image forming apparatus after the light-receiving surface is cleaned.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 an image forming device to form a toner image; 
 an image bearer, which is a belt, to bear the toner image to be transferred on a recording medium; 
 at least one density sensor having a light-receiving surface to optically read the toner image, the light-receiving surface facing the image bearer constantly; 
 a cleaning jig to clean the density sensor, the cleaning jig including a cleaner to contact the light-receiving surface; and 
 an insertion port through which the cleaning jig is inserted into a body of the image forming apparatus and reciprocally moved to clean the light-receiving surface and is to be removed from the body of the image forming apparatus after the light-receiving surface is cleaned, 
 wherein the cleaning jig is removed from an inside of the body of the image forming apparatus after cleaning of the light-receiving surface is finished. 
 
     
     
       2. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a guide between the image bearer and the density sensor, 
 wherein the guide has an opening at at least a portion facing the light-receiving surface of the density sensor, and 
 the guide is to guide reciprocal movement of the cleaning jig. 
 
     
     
       3. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the guide is parallel to the light-receiving surface of the density sensor. 
     
     
       4. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the guide has a plate shape. 
     
     
       5. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a portion at which the cleaner and the light-receiving surface contact each other includes a liquid that prevents the light-receiving surface from being charged, to clean the light-receiving surface. 
 
     
     
       6. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the liquid includes distilled water. 
     
     
       7. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a housing configured to house the image forming device, the image bearer, and the at least one density sensor. 
     
     
       8. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the insertion port is disposed on a side of the housing, and the cleaning jig is removed from the inside of the body of the image forming apparatus after cleaning of the light-receiving surface is finished though the insertion port on the side of the housing. 
     
     
       9. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaner is formed of a nonwoven fabric. 
     
     
       10. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cover to cover the insertion port. 
 
     
     
       11. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one density sensor does not include a shutter that shields the light-receiving surface from light.